N.O.R.E.

Santiago's record is unusual because it splits cleanly into two careers. As a rapper, he put two solo albums at number three on the Billboard 200, won a Grammy for "Nothin'," and helped carry reggaeton into mainstream American radio with "Oye Mi Canto" at a time when almost no East Coast rapper was doing that. As a media figure, he co-built Drink Champs into one of the most influential interview platforms in hip-hop, and the 2022 BET Hip Hop Award for Best Hip Hop Platform recognized that directly. Few artists of his generation have a second act that rivals the first, and his is anchored by a show that artists treat as a serious venue rather than a promotional stop.